Connecticut western news., 1887-03-30
BEN'S "NOSTALGIA.D
BY MRS. M. l.. RAYNE.

D1 MhS. m L. hA1NS.
 Farmer Connover strode into the house, took off his fur cap and thick mittens, and unwound numerous links of red wooden comforter from his ample throat. Thaa lie sat down by the warm wood fire and said to hls wife:
 'Seems like I had somethin' to tell you, Sairy Ann, but I can't for the life of me just remember it neow."
 "Was it somebody got married2" in quired Mrs. Connover, who was bustling about setting the table for supper.
 "No, didn't seem as twas. Lcmme think" and he pressed medtative fore finger on that portion of his forehead where he seemed to locate the faculty of memory.
 "Is anybody dead that you are &C., quainted with2"
 No, no, tain't eyether marryin' or dyin' as kin see. Gurus how I do for get hings sometimes"
 ''We ain't heard from Ben for quite awhile," suggested Mrs. Conover.
 "That's it." cried the farmer, jumping to his feet as sprightly as log. ''Tain'l from Ben, leastwise it ain't his hand = written, but it's Q letter. Pve got it right here in my rocket"
 ''Do tell" said his wife, dropping the dishes she was holding in d promiscu- ous heap. '"If it ain't from Ben, who is it from2' .....
 "It's writ to you," said her husband producing it at last.
 Mrs. Conover reached up to the clock shelf and took down her P:ble-reading spectacles.
 '1t's a strange hand to me-" she said, scanning it carefully, "must be some of Cicely's folks."
 So she stepped to the door leading above stairs and called at the top of her voice:
 "C-l-c-el-y! C-i-c-e-l-yw
 'Here I am. mother" answerd 6 sweet voice. "What is it2"
 For every infection of her good mothers voice was familiar to her, and this one bristled with exclamation points.
 ''Here is a letter. in a strange hand write. Do you know who it is froma' handing it to her.
 'Why, it is addressed to you, mother. It seems to me the easiest way to find out would be just to open it and read it."
 "Well, then do," said her mother "Pm so fdgcted thinking about Ben off t ere alone that can't open it'
 ''This isn't anything about Ben, said Cicely, deftly opening the envelope after she had admired the smart colleg, style superscription. 'It's from some lawyer or fruit-tree agent, likely, on business"
 "What would he write to you mother for2'' suggested Father Como yer grufly.
 Cicely read it over to herself first, ant at once changed color.
 '1t is about Ben, mother," she sa; the tears rushing into her eyes and he voice, "he is sick, and this is from tn doctor who is taking care of him. Oh mother, don't cry, Ben needs you. Kee] upyour strength"
 "What ails hima" asked his father il an unsteady tone. Cicely read the doctors letter.
 He said that Ben was his patient, an' he was doing all he could for him, bu his arents had better come, as it re quired more skill than he-the physicia had to cure him. He ended by sayin that the boy was suffering from sever attack of nostalgia.
 "What in the world is that? neve heard of it before," exclaimed Mir. Con mover.
 'What is it, Cicely2" asked Mrs. Cor mover. Cicely was graduate of th Normal school, and her parents expecte her to know everything.
 She shook her head.
 Ut means that we must go to Be just as soon as we can. If there ha been any hope the doctor would hay said so."
 She cried and worked at the sam [ time. Ben, her only brother, was he idol. She had opposed his going ava from first to last but the father WI wiser.
 'If the boy ain't contentel here, le him go to the city, and clerk it for year or two. He's king of two hand anywhere" said the gruff old farmer. And Ben had been i'll. and tee prou to let them know.